Hilal bin Umaiya accused his wife of committing illegal sexual intercourse with Sharik bin Sahma' and filed the case before the Prophet. The Prophet ﷺ said (to Hilal), "Either you bring forth a proof (four witnesses) or you will receive the legal punishment (lashes) on your back." Hilal said, "O Allah's Apostle! If anyone of us saw a man over his wife, would he go to seek after witnesses?" The Prophet ﷺ kept on saying, "Either you bring forth the witnesses or you will receive the legal punishment (lashes) on your back." Hilal then said, "By Him Who sent you with the Truth, I am telling the truth and Allah will reveal to you what will save my back from legal punishment." Then Gabriel came down and revealed to him:-- 'As for those who accuse their wives...' (24.6-9) The Prophet ﷺ recited it till he reached: '... (her accuser) is telling the truth.' Then the Prophet ﷺ left and sent for the woman, and Hilal went (and brought) her and then took the oaths (confirming the claim). The Prophet ﷺ was saying, "Allah knows that one of you is a liar, so will any of you repent?" Then the woman got up and took the oaths and when she was going to take the fifth one, the people stopped her and said, "It (the fifth oath) will definitely bring Allah's curse on you (if you are guilty)." So she hesitated and recoiled (from taking the oath) so much that we thought that she would withdraw her denial. But then she said, "I will not dishonor my family all through these days," and carried on (the process of taking oaths). The Prophet ﷺ then said, "Watch her; if she delivers a black-eyed child with big hips and fat shins then it is Sharik bin Sahma's child." Later she delivered a child of that description. So the Prophet ﷺ said, "If the case was not settled by Allah's Law, I would punish her severely."  

أَنَّ هِلاَلَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ قَذَفَ امْرَأَتَهُ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِشَرِيكِ بْنِ سَحْمَاءَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الْبَيِّنَةَ أَوْ حَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُنَا عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلاً يَنْطَلِقُ يَلْتَمِسُ الْبَيِّنَةَ فَجَعَلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَقُولُ الْبَيِّنَةَ وَإِلاَّ حَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ فَقَالَ هِلاَلٌ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنِّي لَصَادِقٌ فَلَيُنْزِلَنَّ اللَّهُ مَا يُبَرِّئُ ظَهْرِي مِنَ الْحَدِّ فَنَزَلَ جِبْرِيلُ وَأَنْزَلَ عَلَيْهِ {وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ} فَقَرَأَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ {إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ} فَانْصَرَفَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهَا فَجَاءَ هِلاَلٌ فَشَهِدَ وَالنَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَقُولُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا كَاذِبٌ فَهَلْ مِنْكُمَا تَائِبٌ ثُمَّ قَامَتْ فَشَهِدَتْ فَلَمَّا كَانَتْ عِنْدَ الْخَامِسَةِ وَقَّفُوهَا وَقَالُوا إِنَّهَا مُوجِبَةٌ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَتَلَكَّأَتْ وَنَكَصَتْ حَتَّى ظَنَنَّا أَنَّهَا تَرْجِعُ ثُمَّ قَالَتْ لاَ أَفْضَحُ قَوْمِي سَائِرَ الْيَوْمِ فَمَضَتْ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَبْصِرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَكْحَلَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ سَابِغَ الأَلْيَتَيْنِ خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهْوَ لِشَرِيكِ بْنِ سَحْمَاءَ فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ كَذَلِكَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لَوْلاَ مَا مَضَى مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ لَكَانَ لِي وَلَهَا شَأْنٌ  

"The first Li'an in Islam was when Hilal bin Umayyah accused Sharik bin As-Sahma' (of committing adultery) with his wife. He came to the Prophet and told him about that. The Prophet said: '(Bring) four witnesses, otherwise (you will feel) the Hadd punishment on your back.' And he repeated that several times. Hilal said to him: 'By Allah, O Messenger of Allah! Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, knows that I am telling the truth, and Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will certainly reveal to you that which will spare my back from the whip.' While they were like that, the Verse of Li'an was revealed to him: 'As to those who accuse their wives.' He called Hilal and he bore witness four times by Allah that he was telling the truth, and the fifth time he invoked the curse of Allah upon him if he were lying. Then he called the woman and she bore witness four times by Allah that he was lying. When it came to the fourth or fifth time, the Messenger of Allah said: 'Stop her, for it will inevitably bring the punishment of Allah upon the liar.' She hesitated until we thought that she was going to confess, then she said: 'I will not dishonor my people today.' Then she went ahead with the oath. The Messenger of Allah said: 'Wait and see. If she produces a child who is white, with straight hair and Qadiy'a eyes, then he belongs to Hilal bin Umayyah, but if she produces a child who is dark with curly hair, of average size and with narrow calves, then he belongs to Sharik bin As-Sahma'.' She produced a child who was dark with curly hair, of average size and with narrow calves. The Messenger of Allah said: 'Had not the matter been settled by the Book of Allah, I would have punished her severely.'"  

إِنَّ أَوَّلَ لِعَانٍ كَانَ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ أَنَّ هِلاَلَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ قَذَفَ شَرِيكَ ابْنَ السَّحْمَاءِ بِامْرَأَتِهِ فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَأَخْبَرَهُ بِذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَرْبَعَةَ شُهَدَاءَ وَإِلاَّ فَحَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ يُرَدِّدُ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ مِرَارًا فَقَالَ لَهُ هِلاَلٌ وَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ ﷻ لَيَعْلَمُ أَنِّي صَادِقٌ وَلَيُنْزِلَنَّ اللَّهُ ﷻ عَلَيْكَ مَا يُبَرِّئُ ظَهْرِي مِنَ الْجَلْدِ فَبَيْنَمَا هُمْ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ آيَةُ اللِّعَانِ { وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ } إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ فَدَعَا هِلاَلاً فَشَهِدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ثُمَّ دُعِيَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ فَشَهِدَتْ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ فَلَمَّا أَنْ كَانَ فِي الرَّابِعَةِ أَوِ الْخَامِسَةِ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَقِّفُوهَا فَإِنَّهَا مُوجِبَةٌ فَتَلَكَّأَتْ حَتَّى مَا شَكَكْنَا أَنَّهَا سَتَعْتَرِفُ ثُمَّ قَالَتْ لاَ أَفْضَحُ قَوْمِي سَائِرَ الْيَوْمِ فَمَضَتْ عَلَى الْيَمِينِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ انْظُرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَبْيَضَ سَبِطًا قَضِيءَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِهِلاَلِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ آدَمَ جَعْدًا رَبْعًا حَمْشَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِشَرِيكِ ابْنِ السَّحْمَاءِ فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ آدَمَ جَعْدًا رَبْعًا حَمْشَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَوْلاَ مَا سَبَقَ فِيهَا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ لَكَانَ لِي وَلَهَا شَأْنٌ قَالَ الشَّيْخُ وَالْقَضِيءُ طَوِيلُ شَعْرِ الْعَيْنَيْنِ لَيْسَ بِمَفْتُوحِ الْعَيْنِ وَلاَ جَاحِظِهِمَا وَاللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى أَعْلَمُ  

"I heard Sa'eed bin Jubair say: 'I was asked about the two who engage in Li'an during the governorship of Ibn Az-Zubair - should they be separated? I did not know what to say, so I got up and went to the house of Ibn 'Umar and said: "O Abu 'Abdur-Rahman, should the two who engage in Li'an be separated?" He said: "Yes, Subhan Allah! The first one who asked about that was so-and-so the son of so-and-so who said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what do you think if a man among us sees his wife committing immoral actions, and if he speaks of it, he will be speaking of a grave matter, but if he keeps quiet, he will be keeping quiet about a grave matter?' He did not answer him, then after that, he came to him and said: 'I was tried with the matter that I asked you about, so Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, revealed these Verses in Surat An-Nur.: 'And for those who accuse their wives' until he reached: 'And the fifth (testimony) should be that the Wrath of Allah be upon her if he (her husband) speaks the truth.' So he started with the man, exhorting him, reminding him, and telling him that the punishment in this world was less severe than the punishment in the Hereafter. He said: 'By the One Who sent you with the truth, I am not lying.' Then he turned to the woman and exhorted her and reminded her. She said: 'By the One Who sent you with the truth, he is lying.' So he started with the man, and he bore witness four times by Allah that he was telling the truth, and the fifth time (he invoked) the curse of Allah upon himself if he was lying. Then he turned to the woman and she bore witness four times by Allah that he was lying, and the fifth time (she invoked) the wrath of Allah upon herself if he was telling the truth. Then he separated them."'"  

سُئِلْتُ عَنِ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ فِي إِمَارَةِ ابْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ أَيُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا فَمَا دَرَيْتُ مَا أَقُولُ فَقُمْتُ مِنْ مَقَامِي إِلَى مَنْزِلِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ أَيُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ نَعَمْ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ سَأَلَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فُلاَنُ بْنُ فُلاَنٍ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ وَلَمْ يَقُلْ عَمْرٌو أَرَأَيْتَ الرَّجُلَ مِنَّا يَرَى عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ فَاحِشَةً إِنْ تَكَلَّمَ فَأَمْرٌ عَظِيمٌ وَقَالَ عَمْرٌو أَتَى أَمْرًا عَظِيمًا وَإِنْ سَكَتَ سَكَتَ عَلَى مِثْلِ ذَلِكَ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَتَاهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الأَمْرَ الَّذِي سَأَلْتُكَ ابْتُلِيتُ بِهِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ﷻ هَؤُلاَءِ الآيَاتِ فِي سُورَةِ النُّورِ { وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ } حَتَّى بَلَغَ { وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ } فَبَدَأَ بِالرَّجُلِ فَوَعَظَهُ وَذَكَّرَهُ وَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الآخِرَةِ فَقَالَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا كَذَبْتُ ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَوَعَظَهَا وَذَكَّرَهَا فَقَالَتْ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنَّهُ لَكَاذِبٌ فَبَدَأَ بِالرَّجُلِ فَشَهِدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَشَهِدَتْ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ فَفَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا  

Ibn ‘Abbas said “Hilal bin Umayyah accused his wife in the presence of Prophet ﷺ of having committed adultery with Sharik bin Sahma’”. The Prophet ﷺ said “Produce evidence or you must receive punishment on your back.” He said “Apostle of Allaah ﷺ when one of us sees a man having intercourse with his wife should he go and seek evidence?” But the Prophet ﷺ merely said “You must produce evidence or you must receive punishment on your back.” Hilal then said “By Him Who sent you with the Truth, I am speaking Truly. May Allaah send down something which will free my back from punishment. Then the following Qur’anic verses were revealed “And those who make charges against their spouses but have no witnesses except themselves” reciting till he reached “one of those who speak the truth”. The Prophet ﷺ then returned and sent for them and they came (to him). Hilal bin Umayyah stood up and testified and the Prophet ﷺ was saying “Allaah knows that one of you is lying. Will one of you repent?” Then the woman got up and testified, but when she was about to do it a fifth time saying that Allaah’s anger be upon her if he was one of those who spoke the truth, they said to her “this is the deciding one”. Ibn ‘Abbas said “She then hesitated and drew back so that we thought the she would withdraw(what she said) “Look and see whether she gives birth to a child with eyes looking as if they have antimony in them, wide buttocks and fat legs, if she did. Sharik bin Sahma’ will be its father. She then gave birth to a child of a similar description. The Prophet ﷺ thereupon said “If it were not for what has already been stated in Allaah’s book I would have dealt severely with her.” Abu Dawud said “This tradition has been transmitted by the people of Medina alone. They narrated the tradition of Hilal on the authority of Ibn Bashshar.”  

أَنَّ هِلاَلَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ قَذَفَ امْرَأَتَهُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِشَرِيكِ بْنِ سَحْمَاءَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الْبَيِّنَةَ أَوْ حَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُنَا رَجُلاً عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ يَلْتَمِسُ الْبَيِّنَةَ فَجَعَلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَقُولُ الْبَيِّنَةَ وَإِلاَّ فَحَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ فَقَالَ هِلاَلٌ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ نَبِيًّا إِنِّي لَصَادِقٌ وَلَيُنْزِلَنَّ اللَّهُ فِي أَمْرِي مَا يُبَرِّئُ ظَهْرِي مِنَ الْحَدِّ فَنَزَلَتْ { وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلاَّ أَنْفُسُهُمْ } فَقَرَأَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ { مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ } فَانْصَرَفَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِمَا فَجَاءَا فَقَامَ هِلاَلُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ فَشَهِدَ وَالنَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا كَاذِبٌ فَهَلْ مِنْكُمَا مِنْ تَائِبٍ ثُمَّ قَامَتْ فَشَهِدَتْ فَلَمَّا كَانَ عِنْدَ الْخَامِسَةِ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَقَالُوا لَهَا إِنَّهَا مُوجِبَةٌ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَتَلَكَّأَتْ وَنَكَصَتْ حَتَّى ظَنَنَّا أَنَّهَا سَتَرْجِعُ فَقَالَتْ لاَ أَفْضَحُ قَوْمِي سَائِرَ الْيَوْمِ فَمَضَتْ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَبْصِرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَكْحَلَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ سَابِغَ الأَلْيَتَيْنِ خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِشَرِيكِ بْنِ سَحْمَاءَ فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ كَذَلِكَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لَوْلاَ مَا مَضَى مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ لَكَانَ لِي وَلَهَا شَأْنٌ  

"I was asked about those who were involved in the case of Li'an and if they are to be separated, during the leadership of Mus'ab bin Az-Zubair. I did not know what to say. So I went to the house of Abdullah bin Umar and I sought permission to enter. I was told that he was taking a nap, but he heard me talking and he said: 'Is it Ibn Jubair? Enter. You would not have come except for a need.'"He said: "So I entered and found him lying on a saddlecloth from his mount. I said: 'O Abu Abdur-Rahman! Are those involved in Li'an separated?' He said: 'Glorious is Allah! Yes. The first who asked about that was so-and-so the son of so-and-so. He came to the Prophet and said: "O Messenger of Allah! If one of us saw his wife committing adultery what should he do? If he were to say anything, his statement would be a horrible matter, and if he were to remain silent, his silence about the matter would be horrible." "He said: 'So the Prophet remained silent and did not answer him. Afterwards he came to the Prophet and said: "The one who asked you about it has been tried by it." So Allah revealed these Ayat from Surat An-Nur. And those who accuse their wives and have no witnesses except themselves - until the end of those Ayat. So he called for the man and recited the Ayat to him and admonished him, reminded him, and he told him: "Indeed the punishment of the world is less than the punishment of the Hereafter." So he said: "Nay! By the One Who sent you with the truth! I did not lie about her." Then he did the same with the woman, admonished her and reminding her and he told her: "Indeed the punishment of the world is less than the punishment of the Hereafter." She said: "Nay! By the One Who sent you with the truth! He is not telling the truth.'" "He said: 'So he started with the man: He testified four times, by Allah that he is one of the truthful, and the fifth time that the curse of Allah be upon him if he was one of the liars. Then the same with the woman: She testified four times by Allah, that he was one of the liars, and the fifth time that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he was one of the truthful. Then he separated the two of them.'"  

فَدَخَلْتُ فَإِذَا هُوَ مُفْتَرِشٌ بَرْدَعَةَ رَحْلٍ لَهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْمُتَلاَعِنَانِ أَيُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ نَعَمْ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ سَأَلَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فُلاَنُ بْنُ فُلاَنٍ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَنَا رَأَى امْرَأَتَهُ عَلَى فَاحِشَةٍ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ إِنْ تَكَلَّمَ تَكَلَّمَ بِأَمْرٍ عَظِيمٍ وَإِنْ سَكَتَ سَكَتَ عَلَى أَمْرٍ عَظِيمٍ قَالَ فَسَكَتَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الَّذِي سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْهُ قَدِ ابْتُلِيتُ بِهِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ هَذِهِ الآيَاتِ الَّتِي فِي سُورَةِ النُّور (وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلاَّ أَنْفُسُهُمْ ) حَتَّى خَتَمَ الآيَاتِ فَدَعَا الرَّجُلَ فَتَلاَ الآيَاتِ عَلَيْهِ وَوَعَظَهُ وَذَكَّرَهُ وَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الآخِرَةِ فَقَالَ لاَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَوَعَظَهَا وَذَكَّرَهَا وَأَخْبَرَهَا أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الآخِرَةِ فَقَالَتْ لاَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا صَدَقَ قَالَ فَبَدَأَ بِالرَّجُلِ فَشَهِدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَشَهِدَتْ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ثُمَّ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَحُذَيْفَةَ  

"I was asked about those who were involved in the case of Li'an and if they are to be separated, during the leadership of Mus'ab bin Az-Zubair. I did not know what to say. So I went to the house of 'Abdullah bin 'Umar and I sought permission to enter. I was told he was taking a nap, but he heard me taking and he said: 'Is it Ibn Jubair? Enter. You would not have come except for a need.'" He said: "So I entered and found him laying on a saddlecloth from his mount. I said: 'O Abu 'Abdur-Rahman! Are those involved in Li'an separated?' He said: 'Glorious is Allah! Yes. The first who asked about hat was so-and-so the son of so-and-so. He came to the Prophet ﷺ and said "O Messenger of Allah! If one of us saw his wife committing adultery, what should he do? If he were to say anything, his statement would be a horrible matter, and if he were to remain silent, his silence about the matter would be horrible." He said: 'So the Prophet ﷺ remained silent and did not answer him. Afterwards he came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: "The one who asked you about it has been tried by it." So Allah revealed these Ayat from Surat An-Nur: 'And those who accuse their wives and have no witnesses except themselves, let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies by Allah (24:6-10)' - until the end of those Ayat. He said: 'So he called for the man and recited the Ayat to him and admonished him, reminded him, and he told him: "Indeed the punishment of the world is less than the punishment of the Hereafter." So he said: "Nay! By the One Who sent you with the Truth! I did not lie about her." Then he ﷺ did the same with the woman, admonishing her and reminding her and he told her: "Indeed the punishment of the world is less than the punishment of the Hereafter." She said: "Nay! By the One Who sent you with the Truth! He is not telling the truth.'" "He said: 'So he started with the man: He testified four times, by Allah that he is one of the truthful, and the fifth time that the curse of Allah be upon him if he was one of the liars. Then the same with the woman: She testified four times by Allah, that he was one of the liars, and the fifth time that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he was one of the truthful. Then he separated the two of them.'"  

سُئِلْتُ عَنِ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ فِي إِمَارَةِ مُصْعَبِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ أَيُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا فَمَا دَرَيْتُ مَا أَقُولُ فَقُمْتُ مِنْ مَكَانِي إِلَى مَنْزِلِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقِيلَ لِي إِنَّهُ قَائِلٌ فَسَمِعَ كَلاَمِي فَقَالَ لِي ابْنَ جُبَيْرٍ ادْخُلْ مَا جَاءَ بِكَ إِلاَّ حَاجَةٌ قَالَ فَدَخَلْتُ فَإِذَا هُوَ مُفْتَرِشٌ بَرْدَعَةَ رَحْلٍ لَهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْمُتَلاَعِنَانِ أَيُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ نَعَمْ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ سَأَلَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فُلاَنُ بْنُ فُلاَنٍ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَنَا رَأَى امْرَأَتَهُ عَلَى فَاحِشَةٍ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ إِنْ تَكَلَّمَ تَكَلَّمَ بِأَمْرٍ عَظِيمٍ وَإِنْ سَكَتَ سَكَتَ عَلَى أَمْرٍ عَظِيمٍ قَالَ فَسَكَتَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الَّذِي سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْهُ قَدِ ابْتُلِيتُ بِهِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ هَذِهِ الآيَاتِ فِي سُورَةِ النُّورِ {والَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلاَّ أَنْفُسُهُمْ} حَتَّى خَتَمَ الآيَاتِ قَالَ فَدَعَا الرَّجُلَ فَتَلاَهُنَّ عَلَيْهِ وَوَعَظَهُ وَذَكَّرَهُ وَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الآخِرَةِ فَقَالَ لاَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْمَرْأَةِ وَوَعَظَهَا وَذَكَّرَهَا وَأَخْبَرَهَا أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الآخِرَةِ فَقَالَتْ لاَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا صَدَقَ فَبَدَأَ بِالرَّجُلِ فَشَهِدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَشَهِدَتْ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ثُمَّ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا  

Hilal bin Umayyah accused his wife in the presence of the Prophet ﷺ of (committing adultery) with Sharik bin Sahma'. The Prophet said: "Bring proof or you will feel the Hadd (punishment) on your back." Hilal bin Umayyah said: "By the One Who sent you with the truth, I am telling the truth, and Allah will send down revelation concerning my situation which will spare my back." Then the following was revealed: "And for those who accuse their wives, but have no witnesses except themselves, let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies (i.e., testifies four times) by Allah that he is one of those who speak the truth. And the fifth (testimony should be) the invoking of the curse of Allah on him if he be of those who tell a lie (against her). But it shall avert the punishment (of stoning to death) from her, it she bears witness four times by Allah, that he (her husband) is telling a lie. And the fifth (testimony) should be that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he (her husband) speaks the truth." The Prophet ﷺ, turned and sent for them, and they came. Hilal bin Umayyah stood up and bore witness, and the Prophet ﷺ said: "Allah knows that one of you is lying. Will either of you repent?" Then she stood up and affirmed her innocence. On the fifth time, meaning that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he (her husband) speaks the truth, they said to her: "It will invoke the wrath of Allah." Ibn 'Abbas said: "She hesitated and backed up, until we thought that she was going to recant. Then she said: 'By Allah, I cannot dishonor my people for ever.' Then the Prophet ﷺ said: 'Wait and see. If she gives birth to a child with black eyes, fleshy buttocks and big calves, then he is the son of Sharik bin Sahma'.' And she gave birth to such a child. Then the Prophet ﷺ said: 'Had it not the matter been settled by the Book of Allah, I would have punished her severely.' "  

أَنَّ هِلاَلَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ قَذَفَ امْرَأَتَهُ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِشَرِيكِ بْنِ سَحْمَاءَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الْبَيِّنَةُ أَوْ حَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ فَقَالَ هِلاَلُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنِّي لَصَادِقٌ وَلَيُنْزِلَنَّ اللَّهُ فِي أَمْرِي مَا يُبَرِّئُ ظَهْرِي قَالَ فَنَزَلَتْ {وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلاَّ أَنْفُسُهُمْ} حَتَّى بَلَغَ {وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ} فَانْصَرَفَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِمَا فَجَاءَا فَقَامَ هِلاَلُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ فَشَهِدَ وَالنَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَقُولُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا كَاذِبٌ فَهَلْ مِنْ تَائِبٍ ثُمَّ قَامَتْ فَشَهِدَتْ فَلَمَّا كَانَ عِنْدَ الْخَامِسَةِ {أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ} قَالُوا لَهَا إِنَّهَا الْمُوجِبَةُ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَتَلَكَّأَتْ وَنَكَصَتْ حَتَّى ظَنَنَّا أَنَّهَا سَتَرْجِعُ فَقَالَتْ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَفْضَحُ قَوْمِي سَائِرَ الْيَوْمِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ انْظُرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَكْحَلَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ سَابِغَ الأَلْيَتَيْنِ خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِشَرِيكِ بْنِ سَحْمَاءَ فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ كَذَلِكَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لَوْلاَ مَا مَضَى مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ لَكَانَ لِي وَلَهَا شَأْنٌ  

"I heard Sa'eed bin Jubair say: 'I was asked about the two who engage in Li'an during the governorship of Ibn Az-Zubair - should they be separated? I did not know what to say, so I got up and went to the house of Ibn 'Umar and said: "O Abu 'Abdur-Rahman, should the two who engage in Li'an be separated?" He said: "Yes, Subhan Allah! The first one who asked about that was so-and-so the son of so-and-so who said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what do you think if a man among us sees his wife committing immoral actions, and if he speaks of it, he will be speaking of a grave matter, but if he keeps quiet, he will be keeping quiet about a grave matter?' He did not answer him, then after that, he came to him and said: 'I was tried with the matter that I asked you about, so Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, revealed these Verses in Surat An-Nur.: 'And for those who accuse their wives' until he reached: 'And the fifth (testimony) should be that the Wrath of Allah be upon her if he (her husband) speaks the truth.' So he started with the man, exhorting him, reminding him, and telling him that the punishment in this world was less severe than the punishment in the Hereafter. He said: 'By the One Who sent you with the truth, I am not lying.' Then he turned to the woman and exhorted her and reminded her. She said: 'By the One Who sent you with the truth, he is lying.' So he started with the man, and he bore witness four times by Allah that he was telling the truth, and the fifth time (he invoked) the curse of Allah upon himself if he was lying. Then he turned to the woman and she bore witness four times by Allah that he was lying, and the fifth time (she invoked) the wrath of Allah upon herself if he was telling the truth. Then he separated them."'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 3473)   

سُئِلْتُ عَنِ الْمُتَلَاعِنَيْنِ أَيُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا؟ فِي إِمَارَةِ ابْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ فَمَا دَرَيْتُ مَا أَقُولُ فَقُمْتُ مِنْ مَكَانِي إِلَى مَنْزِلِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ فَقُلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْمُتَلَاعِنَانِ أَيُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا؟ فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللهِ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ سَأَلَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فُلَانُ بْنُ فُلَانٍ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَرَأَيْتَ الرَّجُلَ يَرَى امْرَأَتَهُ عَلَى فَاحِشَةٍ فَإِنْ تَكَلَّمَ تَكَلَّمَ بِأَمْرٍ عَظِيمٍ وَإِنْ سَكَتَ سَكَتَ عَلَى مِثْلِ ذَلِكَ؟ فَسَكَتَ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدُ أَتَاهُ فَقَالَ الَّذِي سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْهُ قَدِ ابْتُلِيتُ بِهِ؟ فَأَنْزَلَاللهُ ﷻ هَؤُلَاءِ الْآيَاتِ فِي سُورَةِ النُّورِ {وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ} [النور 6] حَتَّى بَلَغَ {أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ} [النور 9] فَبَدَأَ بِالرَّجُلِ فَوَعَظَهُ وَذَكَّرَهُ وَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْآخِرَةِ فَقَالَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا كَذَبْتُكَ ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَوَعَظَهَا وَذَكَّرَهَا وَأَخْبَرَهَا أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْآخِرَةِ فَقَالَتْ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنَّهُ لَكَاذِبٌ قَالَ فَبَدَأَ بِالرَّجُلِ فَشَهِدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَشَهِدَتْ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ثُمَّ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا  

[Machine] When Hilal ibn Umayyah threw his wife, it was said to him, "By Allah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ will whip you with eighty lashes." He said, "Allah is more just than that, to strike me with eighty lashes. He knew that I saw until I became certain, and I heard until I became convinced. No, by Allah, he will never strike me." Then the verse of curse was revealed, so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called for both of them when the verse was revealed and he said, "Allah knows that one of you is lying. Is there any repentance from either of you?" Hilal said, "By Allah, I am telling the truth." Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Swear by Allah, the One who there is no god but Him, that you are telling the truth." He said that four times, and if he was lying, the curse of Allah would be upon him. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Stop at the fifth time, as it is binding." So, she swore and said it four times, "By Allah, the One who there is no god but Him, he is one of the liars." And if she was telling the truth, then the anger of Allah would be upon her. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Stop at the fifth time, as it is binding." Then she hesitated and was inclined to confess. Then she said, "I do not want to expose my people." So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "If she comes with it, it should be a black dye that darkens the eyes, with black pupils, thickly outlined, with lashes that curve upwards. Then it is for the one who was accused, Hilal ibn Umayyah. And if she comes with it in yellow color, then it should be cut with spots. Then it is for Hilal ibn Umayyah." So they brought it in the description of rebellion. Ayub said, and Muhammad ibn Sirin said, "The man who informed Hilal ibn Umayyah's wife was Shurayk ibn Sahma, who was the brother of Bara' ibn Malik, the brother of Anas ibn Malik from his mother. His mother was black. And Shurayk used to stay at Hilal's house and be with him."  

لَمَّا قَذَفَ هِلَالُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ امْرَأَتَهُ قِيلَ لَهُ وَاللَّهِ لَيَجْلِدَنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثَمَانِينَ جَلْدَةً قَالَ اللَّهُ أَعْدَلُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَنْ يَضْرِبَنِي ثَمَانِينَ جَلْدَةً وَقَدْ عَلِمَ أَنِّي رَأَيْتُ حَتَّىَ اسْتَيْقَنْتُ وَسَمِعْتُ حَتَّىَ اسْتَثْبَتُّ لَا وَاللَّهِ لَا يَضْرِبُنِي أَبَدًا فَنَزَلَتْ آيَةُ الْمُلَاعَنَةِ فَدَعَا بِهِمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حِينَ نَزَلَتِ الْآيَةُ فَقَالَ «اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا كَاذِبٌ فَهَلْ مِنْكُمَا تَائِبٌ» فَقَالَ هِلَالٌ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لَصَادِقٌ فَقَالَ «احْلِفْ بِاللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ إِنِّي لَصَادِقٌ» يَقُولُ ذَلِكَ أَرْبَعَ مَرَّاتٍ فَإِنْ كُنْتُ كَاذِبًا فَعَلَيَّ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «قِفُوهُ عِنْدَ الْخَامِسَةِ فَإِنَّهَا مُوجِبَةٌ» فَحَلَفَتْ ثُمَّ قَالَتْ أَرْبَعًا وَاللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ وَإِنْ كَانَ صَادِقًا فَعَلَيْهَا غَضَبُ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «قِفُوهَا عِنْدَ الْخَامِسَةِ فَإِنَّهَا مُوجِبَةٌ فَرَدَّدَتْ وَهَمَّتْ بِالِاعْتِرَافِ» ثُمَّ قَالَتْ لَا أَفْضَحُ قَوْمِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «إِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَكْحَلَ أَدْعَجَ سَابِغَ الْأَلْيَتَيْنِ أَلَفَّ الْفَخِذَيْنِ حَدْلَجَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِلَّذِي رُمِيَتْ بِهِ وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَصْفَرَ قَصِفًا سَبِطًا فَهُوَ لِهِلَالِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ» فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ عَلَى الصِّفَةِ الْبَغِيِّ قَالَ أَيُّوبُ وَقَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِيرِينَ «كَانَ الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي بَلَغَهَا هِلَالُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ شَرِيكَ بْنَ سَحْمَاءَ وَكَانَ أَخَا الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ أَخِي أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ لِأُمِّهِ وَكَانَتْ أُمُّهُ سَوْدَاءَ وَكَانَ شَرِيكٌ يَأْوِي إِلَى مَنْزِلِ هِلَالٍ وَيَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ»  

"The first Li'an in Islam was when Hilal bin Umayyah accused Sharik bin As-Sahma' (of committing adultery) with his wife. He came to the Prophet and told him about that. The Prophet said: '(Bring) four witnesses, otherwise (you will feel) the Hadd punishment on your back.' And he repeated that several times. Hilal said to him: 'By Allah, O Messenger of Allah! Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, knows that I am telling the truth, and Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will certainly reveal to you that which will spare my back from the whip.' While they were like that, the Verse of Li'an was revealed to him: 'As to those who accuse their wives.' He called Hilal and he bore witness four times by Allah that he was telling the truth, and the fifth time he invoked the curse of Allah upon him if he were lying. Then he called the woman and she bore witness four times by Allah that he was lying. When it came to the fourth or fifth time, the Messenger of Allah said: 'Stop her, for it will inevitably bring the punishment of Allah upon the liar.' She hesitated until we thought that she was going to confess, then she said: 'I will not dishonor my people today.' Then she went ahead with the oath. The Messenger of Allah said: 'Wait and see. If she produces a child who is white, with straight hair and Qadiy'a eyes, then he belongs to Hilal bin Umayyah, but if she produces a child who is dark with curly hair, of average size and with narrow calves, then he belongs to Sharik bin As-Sahma'.' She produced a child who was dark with curly hair, of average size and with narrow calves. The Messenger of Allah said: 'Had not the matter been settled by the Book of Allah, I would have punished her severely.'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 3469)   

أَنَّ شَرِيكَ بْنَ سَحْمَاءَ أَقْذَفَهُ هِلَالُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ بِامْرَأَتِهِ فَرَفَعَهُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «يَا هِلَالُ أَرْبَعَةُ شُهُودٍ وَإِلَّا فَحَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ» قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ أَنِّي صَادِقٌ وَلَيُنْزِلَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ مَا يُبَرِّئُ ظَهْرِي مِنَ الْجَلْدِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ {وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ} إِلَى آخِرِ الْآيَةِ فَدَعَاهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَقَالَ «اشْهَدْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّكَ لِمَنِ الصَّادِقِينَ فِيمَا رَمَيْتَهَا بِهِ مِنَ الزِّنَى» فَشَهِدَ بِذَلِكَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ فِي الْخَامِسَةِ «وَلَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ فِيمَا رَمَيْتَهَا بِهِ مِنَ الزِّنَى» فَفَعَلَ ثُمَّ دَعَاهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ «قَوْمِي اشْهَدِي بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لِمَنِ الْكَاذِبِينَ فِيمَا رَمَاكَ بِهِ مِنَ الزِّنَى» فَشَهِدَتْ بِذَلِكِ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهَا فِي الْخَامِسَةِ «وَغَضَبُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ فِيمَا رَمَاكِ بِهِ مِنَ الزِّنَى» فَلَمَّا كَانَ فِي الرَّابِعَةِ أَوِ الْخَامِسَةِ فَسَكَتَتْ سَكْتَةً حَتَّى ظَنُّوا أَنَّهَا سَتَعْتَرِفُ ثُمَّ قَالَتْ لَا أَفْضَحُ قَوْمِي سَائِرَ الْيَوْمِ فَمَضَتْ عَلَى الْقَوْلِ فَفَرَّقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَيْنَهُمَا وَقَالَ «انْظُرُوا إِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ جَعْدًا حَمْشَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِشَرِيكِ بْنِ سَحْمَاءَ وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَبْيَضَ سَبِطًا قَضِئَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِهِلَالِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ» فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ آدَمَ جَعْدًا حَمْشَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «لَوْلَا مَا نَزَلَ فِيهِمَا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ لَكَانَ لِي وَلَهُمَا شَأْنٌ»  

"The first Li'an in Islam was when Hilal bin Umayyah accused Sharik bin As-Sahma' (of committing adultery) with his wife. He came to the Prophet and told him about that. The Prophet said: '(Bring) four witnesses, otherwise (you will feel) the Hadd punishment on your back.' And he repeated that several times. Hilal said to him: 'By Allah, O Messenger of Allah! Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, knows that I am telling the truth, and Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will certainly reveal to you that which will spare my back from the whip.' While they were like that, the Verse of Li'an was revealed to him: 'As to those who accuse their wives.' He called Hilal and he bore witness four times by Allah that he was telling the truth, and the fifth time he invoked the curse of Allah upon him if he were lying. Then he called the woman and she bore witness four times by Allah that he was lying. When it came to the fourth or fifth time, the Messenger of Allah said: 'Stop her, for it will inevitably bring the punishment of Allah upon the liar.' She hesitated until we thought that she was going to confess, then she said: 'I will not dishonor my people today.' Then she went ahead with the oath. The Messenger of Allah said: 'Wait and see. If she produces a child who is white, with straight hair and Qadiy'a eyes, then he belongs to Hilal bin Umayyah, but if she produces a child who is dark with curly hair, of average size and with narrow calves, then he belongs to Sharik bin As-Sahma'.' She produced a child who was dark with curly hair, of average size and with narrow calves. The Messenger of Allah said: 'Had not the matter been settled by the Book of Allah, I would have punished her severely.'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 3469)  

أَنَّ هِلَالَ ابْنَ أُمَيَّةَ قَذَفَ شَرِيكَ بْنَ السَّحْمَاءِ بِامْرَأَتِهِ فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَأَخْبَرَهُ بِذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «أَرْبَعَةَ شُهَدَاءَ وَإِلَّا فَحَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ» يُرَدِّدُ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ مِرَارًا فَقَالَ لَهُ هِلَالٌ وَاللهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ اللهَ لَيَعْلَمُ أَنِّي صَادِقٌ وَلَيُنْزِلَنَّ اللهُ عَلَيْكَ مَا يُبَرِّئُ بِهِ ظَهْرِي مِنَ الْحَدِّ فَبَيْنَمَا هُمْ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ آيَةُ اللِّعَانِ {وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ} [النور 6] إِلَى آخِرِ الْآيَاتِ فَدُعِيَ هِلَالٌ فَشَهِدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ثُمَّ دُعِيَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ فَشَهِدَتْ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ فَلَمَّا أَنْ كَانَ فِي الرَّابِعَةِ أَوِ الْخَامِسَةِ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «وَقِّفُوهَا فَإِنَّهَا مُوجِبَةٌ» فَتَلَكَّأَتْ حَتَّى مَا شَكَكْنَا أَنَّهَا سَتَعْتَرِفُ ثُمَّ قَالَتْ لَا أَفْضَحُ قَوْمِي سَائِرَ الْيَوْمِ فَمَضَتْ عَلَى الْيَمِينِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ انْظُرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَبْيَضَ سَبِطًا قَضِيءَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِهِلَالِ ابْنِ أُمَيَّةَ وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ آدَمَ جَعْدًا رَبْعًا حَمْشَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِشَرِيكِ بْنِ سَحْمَاءَ فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ آدَمَ جَعْدًا رَبْعًا حَمْشَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «لَوْلَا مَا سَبَقَ فِيهَا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللهِ لَكَانَ لِي وَلَهَا شَأْنٌ» وَالْقَضِيءُ الْعَيْنَيْنِ طَوِيلَ شُفْرِ الْعَيْنَيْنِ لَيْسَ بِمَفْتُوحِ الْعَيْنِ وَلَا جَاحِظِهِمَا  

Ibn ‘Abbas said “Hilal bin Umayyah accused his wife in the presence of Prophet ﷺ of having committed adultery with Sharik bin Sahma’”. The Prophet ﷺ said “Produce evidence or you must receive punishment on your back.” He said “Apostle of Allaah ﷺ when one of us sees a man having intercourse with his wife should he go and seek evidence?” But the Prophet ﷺ merely said “You must produce evidence or you must receive punishment on your back.” Hilal then said “By Him Who sent you with the Truth, I am speaking Truly. May Allaah send down something which will free my back from punishment. Then the following Qur’anic verses were revealed “And those who make charges against their spouses but have no witnesses except themselves” reciting till he reached “one of those who speak the truth”. The Prophet ﷺ then returned and sent for them and they came (to him). Hilal bin Umayyah stood up and testified and the Prophet ﷺ was saying “Allaah knows that one of you is lying. Will one of you repent?” Then the woman got up and testified, but when she was about to do it a fifth time saying that Allaah’s anger be upon her if he was one of those who spoke the truth, they said to her “this is the deciding one”. Ibn ‘Abbas said “She then hesitated and drew back so that we thought the she would withdraw(what she said) “Look and see whether she gives birth to a child with eyes looking as if they have antimony in them, wide buttocks and fat legs, if she did. Sharik bin Sahma’ will be its father. She then gave birth to a child of a similar description. The Prophet ﷺ thereupon said “If it were not for what has already been stated in Allaah’s book I would have dealt severely with her.” Abu Dawud said “This tradition has been transmitted by the people of Medina alone. They narrated the tradition of Hilal on the authority of Ibn Bashshar.” (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2254)   

لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الْبَيِّنَةُ أَوْ حَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُنَا رَجُلًا عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ أَيَلْتَمِسُ الْبَيِّنَةَ؟ فَجَعَلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَقُولُ الْبَيِّنَةُ وَإِلَّا حَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ فَقَالَ هِلَالٌ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنِّي لَصَادِقٌ وَلَيُنْزِلَنَّ اللهُ فِي أَمْرِي مَا يُبَرِّئُ ظَهْرِي مِنَ الْحَدِّ فَنَزَلَ جَبْرَائِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَنَزَلَتِ الْآيَةُ {وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلَّا أَنْفُسُهُمْ} [النور 6] فَقَرَأَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ {وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ} [النور 9] قَالَ فَانْصَرَفَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِمَا فَجَاءَا فَقَامَ هِلَالُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ فَشَهِدَ وَالنَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَقُولُ إِنَّ اللهَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا كَاذِبٌ فَهَلْ مِنْكُمَا تَائِبٌ؟ ثُمَّ قَامَتْ فَشَهِدَتْ فَلَمَّا كَانَ عِنْدَ {الْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ} [النور 9] قَالُوا لَهَا إِنَّهَا مُوجِبَةٌ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَتَلَكَّأَتْ حَتَّى ظَنَنَّا أَنَّهَا سَتَرْجِعُ ثُمَّ قَالَتْ لَا أَفْضَحُ قَوْمِي سَائِرَ الْيَوْمِ فَمَضَتْ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ انْظُرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَكْحَلَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ سَابِغَ الْأَلْيَتَيْنِ خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِشَرِيكِ بْنِ سَحْمَاءَ فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ كَذَلِكَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لَوْلَا مَا مَضَى مِنْ كِتَابِ اللهِ تَعَالَى لَكَانَ لِي وَلَهَا شَأْنٌ  

[Machine] When Hilal bin Umayyah threw his wife, it was said to him, "By Allah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ will surely order you to be lashed eighty times." He said, "Allah is more just than that. It is more just for Him to strike me eighty times, knowing that I have seen until I am certain, and I have heard until I am convinced. No, by Allah, He will never strike me." Then the verse of cursing was revealed, so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called them when the verse was revealed and said, "Allah knows that one of you is lying. Is there anyone among you who will repent?" Hilal said, "By Allah, I am telling the truth." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him, "Swear by Allah, the One besides whom there is no god, that you are telling the truth." So he said that four times, and if he was lying, the curse of Allah would be upon him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Stop at the fifth one, as that is deserving." He swore, then she said four times, "By Allah, the One besides whom there is no god, he is one of the liars." So if he was telling the truth, the anger of Allah would be upon her. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Stop at the fifth one, as that is deserving." She hesitated and thought about confessing, then she said, "I don't want to expose my people." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "If she comes with him and her eyelids are painted with kohl, her eyes are smeared with antimony, her thighs are dark and plump, her shins are well-built, then it is for the man with whom she was accused. And if she comes with him and he is pale, thin, with a thin beard, then it is for Hilal bin Umayyah." She came with him in a brazen manner. Ayub said, "The man who accused her was Hilal bin Umayyah, the son of Sahma, who was the brother of Bara bin Malik, the brother of Anas bin Malik's mother. His mother was black, and Sharik used to go to Hilal's house and stay with him. The sheikh named the word of cursing an oath."  

لَمَّا قَذَفَ هِلَالُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ امْرَأَتَهُ قِيلَ لَهُ وَاللهِ لَيَحُدَّنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ ثَمَانِينَ جَلْدَةً قَالَ اللهُ أَعْدَلُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَنْ يَضْرِبَنِي ثَمَانِينَ ضَرْبَةً وَقَدْ عَلِمَ أَنِّي رَأَيْتُ حَتَّى اسْتَوْثَقْتُ وَسَمِعْتُ حَتَّى اسْتَبَنْتُ لَا وَاللهِ لَا يَضْرِبُنِي أَبَدًا فَنَزَلَتْ آيَةُ الْمُلَاعَنَةِ فَدَعَاهُمَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ حِينَ نَزَلَتِ الْآيَةُ فَقَالَ اللهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا كَاذِبٌ فَهَلْ مِنْكُمَا تَائِبٌ؟ فَقَالَ هِلَالٌ وَاللهِ إِنِّي لَصَادِقٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ احْلِفْ بِاللهِ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ إِنِّي لَصَادِقٌ تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ أَرْبَعَ مَرَّاتٍ فَإِنْ كُنْتَ كَاذِبًا فَعَلَيَّ لَعْنَةُ اللهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ قِفُوهُ عِنْدَ الْخَامِسَةِ فَإِنَّهَا مُوجِبَةٌ فَحَلَفَ ثُمَّ قَالَتْ أَرْبَعًا وَاللهِ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ فَإِنْ كَانَ صَادِقًا فَعَلَيْهَا غَضَبُ اللهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ قِفُوهَا عِنْدَ الْخَامِسَةِ فَإِنَّهَا مُوجِبَةٌ فَتَرَدَّدَتْ وَهَمَّتْ بِالِاعْتِرَافِ ثُمَّ قَالَتْ لَا أَفْضَحُ قَوْمِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَكْحَلَ أَدْعَجَ سَابِغَ الْأَلْيَتَيْنِ أَلِفَ الْفَخِذَيْنِ خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِلَّذِي رُمِيَتْ بِهِ وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَصْفَرَ قَضِيفًا سَبِطًا فَهُوَ لِهِلَالِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ عَلَى صِفَةِ الْبَغِيِّ قَالَ أَيُّوبُ وَقَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِيرِينَ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي قَذَفَهَا بِهِ هِلَالُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ شَرِيكَ بْنَ سَحْمَاءَ وَكَانَ أَخَا الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ أَخِي أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ لِأُمِّهِ وَكَانَتْ أُمُّهُ سَوْدَاءَ وَكَانَ شَرِيكٌ يَأْوِي إِلَى مَنْزِلِ هِلَالٍ وَيَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ قَالَ الشَّيْخُ فَسَمَّى كَلِمَةَ اللِّعَانِ حَلِفًا  

I was asked about the invokers of curses during the reign of Mus'ab (b. Zubair) whether they could separate (themselves by this process). He said: I did not understand what to say. So I went to the house of Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) in Mecca. I said to his servant: Seek permission for Me. He said that he (Ibn 'Umar) had been taking rest. He (Ibn 'Umar) heard my voice. and said: Are you Ibn Jubair? I said: Yes. He'said: Come in. By Allah, it must be some (great) need which has brought you here at this Hour. So I got in and found him lying on a blanket reclining against a pillow stuffed with fibres of date-palm. I said: O Abu'Abd al-Rahman, should there be separation between the invokers of curses? He said: Hallowed be Allah, yes, The first one who asked about it was so and so. he said: Messenger of Allah, tell me If one of us finds his wife committing adultery: what should he do? If he talks, that is something great, and if he keeps quiet that is also (something great) (which he cannot afford to do). Allah's Prophet ﷺ kept quiet (or some time). After some time he (that very person) came to him (Messenger of Allah) and said: I have been involved in that very cage about which I had asked you Allah the Exalted and Majestic then revealed (these) verses of Surah Nur:" Those who accuse their wives" (verse 6), and he (the Holy Prophet) recited them to him and admonished him, and exhorted him and informed him that the torment of the world is less painful than the torment of the Hereafter. He said: No, by Him Who sent you with Truth, I did not tell a lie against her. He (the Holy Prophet) then called her (the wife of that person who had accused her) and admonished her, and exhorted her, and informed her that the torment of this world is less painful than the torment of the Hereafter. She said: No, by Him Who sent thee with Truth, he is a liar. (it was) the man who started the swearing of oath and he swore in the name of Allah four times that he was among the truthful. and at the fifth turn he said: Let there be curse of Allah upon him if he were among the liars. Then the woman was called and she swore four times in the name of Allah that he (her husband) was among the liars, and at the fifth time (she said): Let there be curse upon her if he were among the truthful. He (the Holy Prophet) then effected separation between the two. (Using translation from Muslim 1493a)   

مَا جَاءَ بِكَ هَذِهِ السَّاعَةَ إِلَّا حَاجَةٌ فَإِذَا هُوَ مُفْتَرِشٌ بَرْذَعَةَ رَحْلِهِ مُتَوَسِّدًا بِوِسَادَةٍ حَشْوُهَا لِيفٌ أَوْ سَلَبٌ قَالَ السَّلَبُ يَعْنِي لِيفَ الْمَقْلِ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْمُتَلَاعِنَيْنِ يُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا؟ فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللهِ نَعَمْ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ سَأَلَ عَنْ هَذَا فُلَانُ بْنُ فُلَانٍ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَرَأَيْتَ لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَنَا رَأَى عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلًا كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ إِنْ تَكَلَّمَ تَكَلَّمَ بِأَمْرٍ عَظِيمٍ وَإِنْ سَكَتَ سَكَتَ عَلَى مِثْلِ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ الَّذِي كُنْتُ سَأَلْتُ عَنْهُ قَدِ ابْتُلِيتُ بِهِ قَالَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ ﷻ الْآيَاتِ الَّتِي فِي سُورَةِ النُّورِ {وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ} [النور 6] إِلَى آخِرِ الْآيَاتِ قَالَ فَدَعَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِالرَّجُلِ فَتَلَا عَلَيْهِ وَوَعَظَهُ وَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْآخِرَةِ فَقَالَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا قَالَ ثُمَّ دَعَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَتَلَا عَلَيْهَا وَوَعَظَهَا وَذَكَّرَهَا وَأَخْبَرَهَا أَنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْآخِرَةِ فَقَالَتْ لَا وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا صَدَقَكَ لَقَدْ كَذَبَكَ قَالَ فَبَدَأَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِالرَّجُلِ فَشَهِدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللهِ أَنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَفِي الْخَامِسَةِ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ثُمَّ ثَنَّى النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَشَهِدَتْ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللهِ أَنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ قَالَ ثُمَّ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا